Millet: A therapeutic grain

Abstract

Millets are highly nutritious and provide nutritional security hence there is a need to promote millets. These have been important staple foods throughout human history, especially in Asia and Africa. Millets consumption as direct food has increased significantly over the last decade. In the 21st century, climate change, water scarcity, world population growth, rising food prices and other socioeconomic impacts are expected to pose serious threats to agriculture and food security worldwide, especially for poorer people living in arid and border regions. These effects challenge researchers and nutritionists to explore ways to produce, process and use other potential food sources to end hunger and poverty. Cereals are the world's most important food source and play an important role in human nutrition worldwide. As one of the most important drought crops, millet is widely cultivated in the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia and is an important source of carbohydrates and proteins for people living in those regions. In addition, due to the significant impact of millet grains on national food security and potential health benefits, millet grains have attracted increasing interest among food scientists, technologists, and nutritionists.